Alarm device for gun-turrets.



J. L. HALL.

ALARM DEVICE FOR GUN TURRETS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20,1908.

. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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' Fig. l H I H I I I I a; at 5: A C C A i r: g FJLARIZED FULARZZEDINYENTUH JUHN L. HALL.

j BY M 1% J. L. HALL. ALARM DEVICE FOR GUN TURRBTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20,1908. 91 3 ,493 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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INS/ENTER JUHN L. HELL.

BY W

QIAZEZ'NESSES: X

' ATTY JOHN .L. HALL, or

SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AIVJARM DEVICE FOR GUK-TURRETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlfieb. 28, '1909.

Application filed Bay 20, 1906. Serial No. 488,874:-

Gun-Turrets, of which the :following is aspecification.

My invention relates to alarm devices for gun turrets and its object isto provide simple and reliable means for giving an alarm when twoad'acent gun-turrets on a battleship are traine at such angles that thefire of one will The limit forthe permissible movement of the guns ofone turret toward the other turret depends upon the direction in whichthat other turret is trained. The alarm should therefore be-so arrangedthat it is controlled by the move lnents of bothturrets, and is operatedonly when the turrets are moved into certain relative positions. Byproviding such an alarm, it makes it possible to control each turretfreely at an time, throughout the range consistent wlth the position ofthe other turret at that time; while, if either turret is moved so thatthe fire from either may affect the other, the alarm is automaticalygiven. To obtain in a simple manner the joint control by both turrets, Iemploy a connection, somewhat similar to that of a Wheatstone brid e.

My invention will best he understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 shows dia rammatically a pair of gun-turretsprovide with an alarm device arranged in accordance with my invention;Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram; Fig. 3 shows a modification adaptedfor turrets at diilerentelevations; Fi 4 is a diagrammatic view ofcontacts contro led by the gun elevations Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic viewof contacts controlled by the gun elevation; and Fig. 5 shows a pair ofturrets at different elevations.

In Fig. 1, A' A represent diagrammatically a .pair of adjacentgun-turrets on a battlesh1p.. B B represent a pair of contactbrushescontrol ed by the movement of the two turrets, respectively. Theoperative connections between the turrets and these contacts may bearranged in any suitable manner. For the sake of simplicity, I haveshown these contacts mounted directly on the turrets themselves. C C remeant a pair of-resistances, each provided with a series-of stationarycontacts over which the brushes B B move. These resistances'O O areconnected in parallel to a supply-circuit D. The brushes B B areconnected to each other through a circuit which includes'themagnetwindings'of a pair of polarized-relays E, :the contacts of which controlthe circuits of signal lamps or the operating magnets of a pair of bellsor other alarm devices F lF which are placed one in 'each turret. Theguns are represented by H H.

With the turrets in the positions shown the brushes B B contact with'euipotentiai points on the two resistances, an no current flows throughthe magnet windings of relays E E. If, however, either turret is moved,the brushes B'B will no longer bear on equipotential points of theresistances, and a current will-flow throu h the circuit connectingthem. This will best e understood by reference to Fig. 2, which shows asimplified dia ram of the connections. It is seen from t is diagram thatthe connections are in effect those of aWheatstone bridge. IfthebrushesB are relatively displaced in one direction, a ourrent flowsthrough relays E E in one direction, while if the relative brushdisplacement is in the opposite direction, acurrent flows through therelays in the opposite direction. The connections of the relay are somade that if either turret is moved, so as to train its guns away fromthe other turret, the current that flows through the relays E E is insuch a direction as merely to hold-the armatures more firmly againsttheir back-stops. If, however, the ns of either turret are moved towardthe ot er turret, the'current, which flows through the relays E E, willshift their armatures and actuate the alarm bells F F. The alarm bellswill stop ringing either when the first turret is returned to its firstposition, or when the second turret is moved so as to train its gunsfarther away from the first turret. The described arrangementautomatically extends the angle over which each turret may be moved,whenever the other turret is moved so as to render that extension of thean le of the first turret ermissible.

In t e drawings, I have s own the brushes B B so arranged that they lieon equipotential points on the two resistances when the guns on the'twoturretsare trainedin parallel vice. should be operative at all times.

two turrets can interfere only when the guns in the left-hand turretaretrained above the horizontal plane, while the guns in the righthandturret are trained below the horizontal plane, or at angles where theblast from the guns of oneturret would injure those on the other turret.Accordingly, for such an arrangement of turrets I prefer to modify thecontrol of the alarm device, as shown'in Fig. 3. In this figure, thecircuit of contacts B B is'led through contacts G G controlled by theelevation of the guns. These contacts;

are so arranged as to open the circuit of contacts B B, and thereb torender the alarm devices ino erative w enever the elevation of the gunsis such that the fire from the two turrets can produce no interference.The

arrangement of contacts G G is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4,which-shows the ar-' ra ement for the lower of two turrets. -The lea s12, leading to contacts B Bin Fig. 3,, are connected tostationaifycontacts, which are arranged to be bridged when the gun. His elevated.When the gunis depressed, the circuit of-leads lg is open. automaticallyrenders the alarm device inoperative, except when it is needed.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particularconstruction andarrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to coverall modifications w uch are within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is,-

1. In combination with a pair of gun-turrets, a supply-circuit, a pairof res1stances connected in "parallel to said circuit, each providedwith a series of contacts, a pair of.

contacts adapted for relative movement over said two series of contactsrespectively, the

relative movements of the two contacts, be-

ing controlled respectively by the movements of said turrets, a circu tconnectin said movable contacts, an alarm device, ant controlling meansfor said device included in the last-mentloned c1rcu1t.

2. In combination with a pair of gun-tun,

rets, a supply circuit, a pair of resistances connected in parallel tosaid circuit, each prov1ded with a series of contacts, a pairof contactsadapted for relative movement over said two series of contactsrespectively, the relative movement of the contacts being controlledrespectively by the movements of said turrets,

a circuit connectingsaid movable contacts,

evice may This modificationan alarm device, an operating ma net for 65.:

rets, a supply circuit, a pair of resistances connected in parallel tosaid circuit, each provided with a series of contacts, a' pair ofmovableicontacts adapted to move over said two series of contacts resectively and controlled respectively by t e movements of said turrets, acircuit connecting said movable contacts, an alarm device,andcontrolling means for-said device included .in the last-mentionedcircuit and responsive to a current therein in one direction only.

7 4. In combination witha pair of gun-turrets, a supply circuit, a pairof reslstances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided witha series of contacts, a pair of contacts adapted for relative movementover said two series of contacts respectively, the

conibmation with a pair ofg unturrelativemovement of the contacts beingcontrolled respectively by the movements of said turrets, a circuitconnecting said mov-f able contacts, an alarm device, controlling meansfor said device included in the last- 'mentioned circuit, and means forrendering 'the alarm device inoperative in certain relative positionsol' the gun.

5. In combmation with a pa1r of gun-turrets, a supply circuit, a pair ofreslstances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided with aseries of contacts, a pair of contacts adapted for relative movementover said two-series of cpntacts respectively, the relative movement ofthe contacts being controlled respectively by the movements of saidturrets, a circuit connecting said movable contacts, an alarm device,controlling means for said device included in the last- 1015 mentionedcircuit, and contacts controlled by the elevation of the gunscontrolling the a arm device.

6. In combination with a pair of gun-turrets, a supply-circuit, a pairof resistances connected in parallel to said circuit, each provided witha series of contacts, a pair of movable contacts adapted to move oversaid two series of contacts res ectively and controlled respectively byt 1e movements of said turrets, a circuit connecting said movablecontacts, an alarm' device, controlling means for said device includedin the lastmentioned circuit, and contacts controlled by the elevationof the guns included in said last mentioned circuit. 7

In witness whereof, I have hereunto. set my hand this 19 day of May,1908. Y 5

JOHN L. HALLZ,

